Football Preview 2023 - The Bradford Era

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2023 GRIDIRON SCHEDULES

CAMERON COUNTY

August

26 — at Ridgway, 7 p.m.

September

2 — Central Clarion, 7 p.m.

9 — at Smethport, 7 p.m.

16 — Cameron County, 7 p.m. 24 — Brockway, 1:30 p.m.

30 — at Kane, 7 p.m.

October

7 — at Union/A-C Valley, 7 p.m. 14 — Redbank Valley, 7 p.m.

21 — at Keystone, 7 p.m. 28 — at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

COUDERSPORT

August

25 — Keystone, 7 p.m.

September

1 — Bradford, 7 p.m.

8 — at Brockway, 7 p.m.

15 — at Smethport, 7 p.m.

22 — Cameron County, 7 p.m.

29 — Elk County Catholic, 7 p.m.

October

6 — at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

13 — Sheffield, 7 p.m.

20 — at Bucktail, 7 p.m. 27 — at Cowanesque Valley, 7 p.m.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC

August

25 — at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

31 — Moniteau, 6 p.m.

September

16 — at Sheffield, 1:30 p.m. 22 — Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

29 — at Coudersport, 7 p.m.

October

6 — Bucktail, 7 p.m.

13 — at Cameron County, 7 p.m.

20 — Sheffield, 7 p.m.

KANE

August

26 — Brockway, 1:30 p.m.

September

1 — at Punxsutawney, 7 p.m.

8 — at St. Marys, 7 p.m.

15 — Ridgway, 7 p.m.

22 — Union-AC Valley, 7 p.m.

30 — at Port Allegany, 1:30 p.m.

October

7 — at Redbank Valley, 1:30 p.m.

13 — Keystone, 7 p.m.

20 — Smethport, 7 p.m.

27 — at Bradford, 7 p.m.

OTTO-ELDRED

August

25 — Elk County Catholic, 7 p.m.

September

1 — Sheffield, 7 p.m.

8 — at Bradford, 7 p.m.

15 — Bucktail, 7 p.m.

22 — at Elk County Catholic, 7 p.m.

30 — at Sheffield, 1:30 p.m.

October

6 — Coudersport, 7 p.m.

13 — at Bucktail, 7 p.m.

20 — Cameron County, 7 p.m.

27 — at Port Allegany, 7 p.m.

PORT ALLEGANY

August 25 — Ridgway, 7 p.m.

September 1 — at Central Clarion, 7 p.m.

8 — Smethport, 7 p.m.

15 — at Cameron County, 7 p.m.

22 — at Brockway, 7 p.m.

30 — Kane, 1:30 p.m.

October

7 — Union/A-C Valley, 1:30 p.m.

13 — at Redbank Valley, 7 p.m.

20 — Keystone, 7 p.m.

27 — Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

RIDGWAY/JOHNSONBURG

August 25 — at Port Allegany, 7 p.m.

31 — St. Marys, 7 p.m.

September

8 — Karns City, 7 p.m.

15 — at Kane, 7 p.m.

22 — at Redbank Valley, 7:30 p.m.

29 — Keystone, 7 p.m.

October

6 — Smethport, 7 p.m.

13 — at Brockway, 7 p.m.

20 — at Union-AC Valley, 7 p.m.

27 — Brookville, 7 p.m.

SHEFFIELD

August

26 — Bucktail, 1:30 p.m.

September

1 — at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m.

16 — Elk County Catholic, 1:30 p.m.

22 — at Bucktail, 7 p.m.

30 — Otto-Eldred

October

7 — Cameron County, 1:30 p.m.

13 — at Coudersport, 7 p.m.

20 — at Elk County Catholic, 7 p.m.

SMETHPORT

August 25 — Redbank Valley, 7 p.m.

September

1 — at Cameron County, 7 p.m.

8 — at Port Allegany, 7 p.m. 15 — Coudersport, 7 p.m. 22 — at Keystone, 7 p.m. 29 — Brockway, 7 p.m.

October

6 — at Ridgway, 7 p.m. 13 — Union-AC Valley, 7 p.m.

— at Kane, 7 p.m.

ST. MARYS

August 25 — at Moniteau, 7 p.m. 31 — at Ridgway/Johnsonburg, 7 p.m.

September

GOOD LUCK TEAMS!

Photo provided

Pictured are nine returning starters from the Elk County Catholic football team. Front row (from left): Thomas Gilmore, Ethan Ott, Frankie Smith and Noah Cherry. Back row: Charlie Geci, Alex Gahr, Shawn Geci and Lucas Grunenwald.

Photo provided

Pictured are the returning letterwinners for the St. Marys football team. Front row (from left): Landon Cook, Bryce Mattiuz, Mike Miller, Matthew Davis. Middle row: Owen Thompson, Grant Jin, Ben Paul, Jackson Vollmer. Back row: Aidan McAlee, Mason Sheeley, Johnny Brandy, Andrew Wolfanger, Andrew Field.

Nittany Lions plan to leave the program better than they found it

By JON SAUBER Centre Daily Times (TNS)

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s become a common refrain in college athletics for players to talk about leaving a program better than they found it. Sometimes it can feel like lip service to culminate a career that didn’t live up to expectations but still saw growth.

This time it feels like a legitimate refrain from the group of Penn State football players that can depart after the 2023 season ends.

The Nittany Lions have seen turbulent times over the past three seasons.

But it’s hard to argue they’re on anything but the upswing entering the year — thanks in large part to a group of players who stayed the course during a difficult stretch and built a culture that can sustain even when they’re gone.

Penn State went 11-11 across 2020 and 2021, the two years when many of the team’s older contributors were waiting in the wings for their opportunity to shine. The program rebounded well with an 11-2 mark last year — matching the record from 2019 — and is now poised to make a run at its first College Football Playoff berth since it began in 2014.

Redshirt senior defensive end Adisa Isaac enrolled in 2019 and played in every 2020 game before missing 2021 due to a torn Achilles. He’s one of the team’s current leaders and said during last week’s Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis that the little things are a big part of making sure the next group of leaders and starters are able to keep the momentum rolling after the current leadership departs.

“When situations happen, especially in practice and stuff, (I) just use those experiences to make a coaching point,” Isaac said. “If I see a guy slacking off, I’ll tie that back into something I saw him do the other day that can lead to bad habits. I try to nip all the bad habits in the bud early. Stop all that from the jump so that way they know the standard. I try to keep a high standard in the room, as far as the way we work, the way we carry ourselves, how we practice, how we run to the ball, all the little details.”

Isaac is one of several players stepping into a void left behind by previous players who led vocally. The questions about who would fill those empty spaces were com-

mon after the 2022 season ended. Players like Ji’Ayir Brown, Sean Clifford and PJ Mustipher were a part of the group that helped oversee the turnaround following the tumultuous 2020-2021 stretch.

They established what needed to be done, leaving it to this collection of leaders to carry that on.

Those players were vocal in what they wanted and how a program should be maintained from a culture standpoint. That starts at the team level but carries down to each position group.

Junior Olumuyiwa Fashanu began his career with the 2020 season — the year that did not count toward eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and is now the best player on the team. He has young players learning from him like second year tackle Drew Shelton, who is fighting for a starting spot, and J’ven Williams, who enrolled this offseason as a highly-touted freshman.

Fashanu’s goal is to make sure the offensive line is in a better position than when he enrolled.

“When I got there my freshman year, the culture was a lot different than it is now,” he said. “I think that just is attributed to the guys in the room right now. ... All of us. Being mentors for the younger guys. Not only on the field, but off the field too. Just the way how we act. Our O-line room is extremely healthy right now. We’re all super tight with each other. We all hang out with each other all the time outside the facility.”

He made clear that it wasn’t that he wasn’t happy with the offensive line room when he arrived. Rather, it was about his personality and how he handled when he had an inquiry.

“When I was a freshman it was probably due to the person that I am,” Fashanu said. “I’m very introverted. If I had questions, more often than not I just wouldn’t ask them. This year and especially last year, (I’ve) tried to make the younger guys feel as comfortable as possible in that room and just to get them to open up when they needed to. At the end of the day, as a freshman, the biggest thing you need are older guys that can lead you on the right path and to answer any questions that you have.”

Looking toward an important season

Sometimes the culture can take care of the leadership on its own. Cultures tend

to be better when a team is winning more and have a proclivity to fracture with added frequency when teams are losing.

That should help keep things rolling in a positive direction as the Nittany Lions look to build off their 11-win 2022 season. And sometimes focusing on doing the right things on your own can help improve a culture. Leading by example can be just as important in creating good habits as being vociferous.

One of the Nittany Lion captains, Keaton Ellis, is focusing on all of those little things as he spends his first year as a captain alongside Fashanu and linebacker Dom DeLuca.

“That’s part of being a captain and being a leader on this team,” Ellis said. “... Just making sure that what I’m doing is putting the team in the best position to win. I’m just excited for the opportunity. I wanted to come back, not only for myself, but for the team. And I really think we have something special and I’m just really excited for the season.”

Those captains and older players like

Isaac are heading toward an important season in modern Penn State history. This is the final year of the four-team playoff field before it expands to 12 in 2024. Yes, the Nittany Lions are primed to make it consistently once it does expand. But making it this year would establish a much higher standard for the next group of Penn State teams to follow. And it’s on the veterans to make sure they leave the program better than they found it.

Let’s Go Owls!

Joe Hermitt/pennlive.com/TNS Penn State defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon, defensive end Adisa Isaac and defensive tackle Dvon Ellies during team photo day.

The 5 Buffalo Bills players who will make biggest impact in 1st season with team

By MATT PARRINO syracuse.com (TNS)

The Buffalo Bills’ season ended in the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs again last season and fans are hoping some of the new faces general manager Brandon Beane has added to the roster will push the team farther into the playoffs.

At least 14 of the 22 starters on both sides of the ball from a year ago are returning this season. The cornerback no. 2 competition and the middle linebacker battle are two big ones to watch when training camp kicks off next week. Which new Bills players are set to make the biggest impact? Here are five names and a few honorable mentions.

It’s been a hectic spring and early summer for Kincaid, who’s been hard at work trying to learn the Bills’ complicated playbook. The rookie plays tight end but it’s his skills as a pass catcher that intrigued Beane enough to trade up to get him in the first round in April. He’ll likely play all over the formation for the Bills and turn into a matchup problem for opposing defensive coordinators. Kincaid is sure-handed and a fluid route runner. Kincaid’s upside is he can help reignite the Bills’ intermediate passing game and open up the middle of the field for quarterback Josh Allen.

Floyd posted 29 sacks in his last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and he’ll step into a massive role for the Bills early in 2023 with Von Miller’s return date up in the air. Early returns on Greg Rousseau have been excellent for the Bills defense, but the young pass rusher is still developing.

Floyd is a proven pass rusher who can help supercharge Sean McDermott’s defensive line. When Miller returns, the Bills will have a nice collection of proven playmakers on their line. Floyd and Miller rushed together for one season in L.A. and it ended with a Super Bowl title for the Rams.

of free agency except for their aggressive move to ink 25-year-old offensive guard Connor McGovern to a three-year deal shortly after the legal tampering period opened on March 13.

Why?

Go back and watch some of the tape of Rodger Saffold in pass protection last season and it becomes abundantly clear why McGovern was a priority.

Saffold allowed 42 pressures last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and only five guards in the NFL allowed more. McGovern allowed just 23 on the season for the Dallas Cowboys and turned in his best performance of the season in the divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers. He didn’t allow a single pressure the entire game against the vaunted 49ers front.

McGovern likely slots in at left guard in between Pro Bowlers Dion Dawkins and Mitch Morse. McGovern brings youth and pass-blocking chops to help protect Allen.

Isaiah McKenzie was never able to take advantage of the opportunity to play slot receiver for the Bills last year when the team moved off Cole Beasley.

So instead of running it back with McKenzie, the Bills paid a sneaky high amount of money for Harty. Beane gave Harty a two-year deal worth almost $10 million after two straight seasons of minimum deals for McKenzie.

Harty is a better separator and offers toughness after the catch. His best season came in 2021 in New Orleans when he caught 36 passes for 570 yards and three touchdowns. He’s struggled to stay healthy but if he’s available, he figures to become a popular target for Allen.

5. Damien Harris, running back

The Bills have been looking for a workhorse-style back that can carry the load in between the tackles for years. In Harris, the Bills may have found a perfect compliment to James Cook. Harris had a breakout season for the Patriots in 2021 when he rushed for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The emergence of Rhamondre Stevenson ate into his workload a year ago and New England moved on from the former third-round pick. In Buffalo, Harris should share carries with Cook and factor into the game plan when facing defenses with elite run-stopping ability.

Honorable mention:

Poona Ford, defensive tackle Ford should probably be in the Top 5 of this list but he’s stuck behind two players that should out-snap him in Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. No matter if he starts, Ford should be a force on the inside that allows others around him to have success. He’s great against the run and has proven in the past to be able to rush the quarterback.

Taylor Rapp, safety Rapp is behind two All Pro safeties in Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, but the fifth-year pro has tons of starting experience. He’ll be the first man up if either of the older safeties gets banged up this season. Don’t count out the chance that McDermott finds away to use Rapp even when Poyer and Hyde are on the field.

1. Dalton Kincaid, tight end

2. Leonard Floyd, defensive end

3. Connor McGovern, left guard

The Bills were quiet in the early days

4. Deonte Harty, wide receiver

Matt Stone/MediaNews group/Boston Herald/TNS

Running back Damien Harris (37), formerly of the New England Patriots, is the newest member of the Buffalo Bills’ backfield this season.

‘See it, hit it, no hesitation’: Steelers betting big on Warren

By GERRY DULAC Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

The Steelers have spent a large portion of the offseason building depth at several key positions, whether with starters or backups. But did they forget one?

After restocking the offensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback and even making sure they had a veteran third-team quarterback, the Steelers are ready to begin playing preseason games with just two proven running backs — Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

And Warren isn’t exactly a seasoned veteran, though he opened a lot of eyes as an undrafted rookie and showed he can be more than just a nice complement to Harris.

With Benny Snell gone, the Steelers are thinner than a razor’s edge at the position, both in depth and experience. Harris and Warren have a combined three years in the league. And the leading candidate to be the third running back has played in three games since 2020.

The question is: Will they go find one? There is a shopping list of proven running backs who are still on the free agent market, everyone from Kareem Hunt and Dalvin Cook to Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette.

Would the Steelers, who have shown no reluctance to deepen their roster, consider such a pickup before the start of the regular season?

The Steelers open the preseason Friday night in Tampa, and coach Mike Tomlin will have to use the next three games to find another running back to go with Harris and Warren. Right now, the leading candidate is Anthony McFarland, who has done little since he was a fourth-round choice in 2020.

McFarland had 33 carries for 113 yards as a rookie but has appeared in just three games with nine carries the past two seasons. He spent part of the 2021 season on injured reserve and most of last season on the practice squad.

After that, the options are slim. Darius Hagans, an undrafted rookie from tiny Virginia State, is listed as the fourth running back on the depth chart that was released the other day. The other candidates are Greg Bell, an undrafted rookie free agent by the Detroit Lions in 2022, and John Lovett of Penn State, who was an undrafted rookie in 2022 by the Carolina Panthers.

Maybe the Steelers are hoping one of them will open their eyes as Warren did last season as an undrafted free agent. He had 379 yards rushing on 77 carries and his 4.9 yards per carry was a full yard better than Harris’ (3.8). What’s more, he caught 28 passes for 216 yards and showed he was a fearless in pass protection.

Warren has made a point to pass that on to this crop of undrafted free agents.

“I felt the same way they do,” Warren said Tuesday after he and his teammates returned from an off day. “I already know what they’re feeling.

I tell them just come out and ball and play their game.”

Warren did that the best way he knows how, combining physicality with downhill running and hitting the hole as though he were trying to jump on a subway train with the door closing.

“See it, hit it, no hesitation,” Warren said. “Just hit it.”

That’s why he stopped playing basketball.

“I like hitting,” Warren said. “You can’t hit in basketball. I played basketball how I played football.”

Warren’s mentality and style might have even served as a template for Harris. After averaging 3.3 yards per carry in his first eight games, Harris began hitting holes and averaged 4.1 yards (673 yards on 164 carries) in the final nine. His two longest runs of the season — 36 yards against New Orleans, 19 versus Cincinnati — came in the final nine games.

The Steelers were fortunate to stumble upon a capable No. 2 running back with Warren. Can they find a No. 3 back from their current crop of candidates? Or will they have to go outside to find him?

Barring injuries, it is highly unlikely the Steelers are interested in the high-profile backs who are still available. One, they would cost more than they want to spend on a backup, especially a third-teamer. And two, any backup they sign will have to play special teams, which leaves out any of the players in that group.

For now, they are merely hoping to uncover another Warren.

“It’s pass protection, physicality, being able to show you can be relied on when things go south,” Warren said. “I guess it was really important. I learned my way. I’m grateful.”

So are the Steelers.

Justin Berl/getty Images/TNS

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) breaks off a 62-yard touchdown carry in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 19, in Pittsburgh.